A 34-year-old man tried to cut the beard of Bishop Ignatius of Dimitriada and Almyros with a knife while the latter was visiting a youth center in Volos, central Greece, late on Sunday.

The assailant, who had reportedly attacked the same cleric with a belt in 2011, is said to suffer from psychological problems. He said his aim was to cut Ignatius’s beard “because his lifestyle and manners are an insult to religious sentiment.”

The 34-year-old was overpowered by onlookers before being arrested by the police. Ignatius made no statement over the incident.